Poll results manipulated against money, allege protesters

KABUL (Pajhwok): Supporters of two unsuccessful Wolesi Jirga candidates Syed Farhad Akbari and Naseema Niyazi on Wednesday rallied in front of the Independent Electoral complaints Commission (IECC) and the UN offices in Kabul against alleged fraud in the October polls.

Akbari, who contested the lower house polls from central Logar province, claimed he had been massively voted in the Oct polls, but still he was declared unsuccessful by the election commission against taking money from the rival candidate. He said he had evidence to substantiate his claim.

“We gathered in front of the IECC gate to register our strong protest and defend people’s votes they cast in our favour, we will not move from here until justice is served,” he said.

Naseema Niyazi, another failing candidate from the Kuchi constituency, and her supporters also protested in front of the UN office in Kabul.

She alleged the election commission was itself involved in facilitating massive fraud in the parliamentary polls and wealthy candidates increased their votes by offering dollars to IEC commissioners.

“I was polled thousands of votes in Logar, Kabul, Kapisa and Nangarhar provinces, but the commission announced there were only 500,” she said. She asked the UN not to support Afghanistan in future elections.